Wednesday Afternoon News, November 28th

(Le Mars) — The National Weather Services has issued a winter weather advisory for northwest Iowa, including Plymouth County, until 6:00 p.m. this evening. Mixed precipitation in the form of sleet, ice, and snow has produced a glaze of ice on many roads, highways, and even city streets.
Motorists should be advised of slick roads as a result of the sleet, ice, and snow. The icy roads did cause a one-vehicle accident that happened at about 11:15 a.m. on Highway 60 northeast of Seney. Le Mars Fire and rescue units, along with the Le Mars Ambulance, and the Le Mars Police and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to that roll-over accident. When
authorities arrived on the scene, the vehicle was right-side-up on its wheels. There was a report of minor injuries that occurred as a result of the accident. The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting that Highways 75 from Hinton going north to Highway 18 is ice covered. Highway 60 from Le Mars to Sheldon is ice covered, as also Highway 3 from Akron to Cherokee is ice covered. Highway 10 from Hawarden going east to Paullina is
also ice covered. Highway 12 from Akron going north past Hawarden is also ice covered. The Iowa DOT is also reporting U-S Highway 75 southbound, approximately four miles north of Le Mars is blocked due to a stalled vehicle. DOT trucks are applying sand and deicer agents on the highways and bridges.

Jeneary Appointed To Be Vice Chairman Of House Natural Resources Committee

(DES MOINES) – House Speaker Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) recently announced that Rep. Tom Jeneary (R-Le Mars) will serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee during the 88th General Assembly. Jeneary was recently elected to his first term in the Iowa House earlier this month.

Speaker Upmeyer says, “We are thrilled to welcome Representative-elect Jeneary to the Iowa House. I am certain that he will be a strong leader for his constituents. As Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I am confident he will quickly learn the ropes and make preserving Iowa’s natural resources a top priority.”

Hospital Auxiliary Getting Prepared For Christmas Goodie Sale

(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Auxiliary is getting prepared for their annual Christmas Goodie sale scheduled for Saturday morning at the conference rooms of Floyd Valley Healthcare. Ruth Farley serves as the chairperson for the Goodie Sale.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Roman Catholic diocese is defending its decision to continue employing a priest who told police he was trying to rape a woman when he was arrested semi-naked in an Iowa mall in 2013.
The Diocese of Sioux City on Wednesday acknowledged the 5-year-old arrest of the Rev. Jeremy Wind, describing it as a “mental health episode” from which he recovered.
Police reports obtained by The Associated Press show Wind was meeting with a parishioner at a Sioux Center bakery in December 2013 when he began behaving erratically.
He eventually took off his pants, shoes and socks and chased the woman.
She locked herself in her car while Wind pounded on her window. She eventually drove off.
Police arrested Wind at a mall after he punched an officer. Wind later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Foster Homes Being Investigated

CLARINDA, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa departments say they’re investigating complaints of restraints, assault and sexual abuse at a foster home and treatment facility for troubled youths from Iowa and other states.
The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa’s Human Services and
Inspections and Appeals departments are looking into the allegations against Clarinda Academy in Clarinda and into any problems at Woodward Academy in the central Iowa community of Woodward. Both are owned by Alabama-based Sequel Youth and Family Services.
A federally mandated protection and advocacy organization in the state of Washington alleged earlier this year that foster children were being held against their will at the Clarinda facility, were subjected to excessive restraint and were verbally abused.
Sequel Executive Vice President Steve Gilbert told the newspaper that Iowa officials completed their on-site audit in September at Clarinda, “noted no deficiencies and renewed our full licensure status.” He didn’t immediately return messages left Wednesday by The Associated Press.
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Murder Charges Against Woman Who Tried To Kill Her Mother

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been scheduled for a northern Iowa woman accused of injecting her mother with insulin in an attempt to kill her.
Floyd County District Court records say 44-year-old Jennifer Bean entered a written plea of not guilty Monday to a charge of attempted murder. Her trial is set to begin Jan. 8 in Charles City. She’s also pleaded not guilty to obstruction of emergency communications and has been charged with domestic abuse assault.
A court document says Bean injected her mother on Nov. 6 in Charles City. The document says the insulin caused the woman to have low blood sugar that, if not treated, could have resulted in the woman’s death.
The document also says Bean struck and pushed her mother and took away a phone when her mother tried to call 911 for help.